We Heart Hermès

It-girl Jane Birkin stuffed her carry-on into a plane’s overhead compartment, gasping as it toppled over, spilling everything into the aisle. Frustrated, she told the guy next to her—who happened to be the chief executive at Hermès—her dream of finding the perfect weekend bag. And thus was born an icon. A legend: the impossibly luxurious Birkin bag, with its crocodile, lizard, or ostrich hides, soft goatskin interior, and impeccable craftsmanship. Embrace the allure of the Birkin and these other rare Hermès handbags.